Apparatus for vaporizing and regulating liquefied gases.



PATENTED NOV. 8. 1904.

G. B. FRALEY.

. APPARATUS FOR VAPORIZING AND REGULATING LIQUEFIED GASES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11.1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

HO MODEL.

J a n i z. M

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wdzeo" N0. 774,169. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1 904.

' G. B. FRALEY.

APPARATUS FOR VAPORIZING AND REGULATING LIQUEPIED GASES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11.1903.

N0 MODEL. ZSHEETS-SHEET 2 UNITED STATES Patented November 8, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. FRALEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,169, dated November 8, 1904..

Application filed June 11, 1903. Serial No. 161,048. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. FRALEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Vaporizing and Regulating Liquefied Gases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for vaporizing and regulating liquefied gases, and has for its object to combine in a single and organized structure means for regulating the flow of liquid gases and simultaneously gasify the same instantly, thereby expanding the gases and by heating them preventing freezing of the parts, which would otherwise be apt to occur from such expansion.

It also has for its object to provide an improved safety device that will automatically Vent the gas reservoir or tank should an abnormal pressure occur therein.

It has for another object to provide novel means for preventing the leakage of the volatilized gas from the apparatus.

- It also has certain other objects in view, which will be rendered hereinafter apparent.

To these ends my invention consists in the features and in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims following the description, reference being had to the accompanying'drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail end view of the operating-handle with its extensionstop and also showing the contact closing brush and one of the contacts. Fig. 4 is a detail view in elevation of the regulating-valve and its pendent sleeve. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of said valve. Fig. 6 is atop plan view of the auxiliary valve for preventing leakage of the volatilized gas.

Referring tothe drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the tank or reservoir for containing the liquid gas, and the numeral 2 denotes in a general way the vaporizing-chamber. Said vaporizing-chamber comprises a hollow metallic shell 3, provided with a pendent and threaded stem 4, which is tightly screwed in thetop of the tank 1. The shell or casing 3 is closed at its upper end by a threaded cap 5 and is provided at its lower end with an outlet-nozzle 6, which communicates by passage 7 with the interior of the shell and is preferably externally threaded, as shown, by means of which it may be connected by a union-coupling with a pipe leading to the point where the vaporized gas is to be utilized.

The numeral 8 indicates a packing box, which,if preferred, may be formed in one piece with the cap 5 and isshown as consisting of a hollow cylinder closed at its lower end, as at 9, and provided at its upper end with a stuflingbox which is closed by ascrew-cap 10. Passing vertically through the stufiing-box and the packing-box and through the stem 4; of the vaporizing-chamber is a hollow valve-stem l1, and surrounding said stem in the stuffing-box is a gland or packing 12. In the lower end of the stem 4: of the vaporizing-chamber is a circular recess 13, in which is arranged a rotary disk valve 14, provided with a pendent sleeve 15,. which is externally threaded, as shown. Fitted on the lower end of the sleeve 15 is a screw-cap 16, provided at its lower end with an opening 17, and arranged between the bottom of the screw-cap 16 and the lower edge of the sleeve 15 is a frangible disk or diaphragm 18. Formed internally inthe upper end of the sleeve 15 is a vavle-seat 19, against which seats a globevalve 20, which is rigidly aflixed to the lower end of the hollow valve-stem 11. Arranged between the bottom of the screw-cap 16 and the bottom of the globe-valve 20 is a coilspring 21, which when the cap 16 is screwed up into place is compressed and holds the globe-valve to its seat. Formed in the stem 4 of the vaporizing-chamber is a vertical passage 22, and formed in thedisk valve 1 1 is a port 23, which is adapted to register when the valve is turned in a certain position with the passage 22.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the port 23 at one end is of such size as to fully coincide with the passage 22 and thence tapers off to a point, so that by turning the valve the port 23 may be caused to fully coincide with the passage 22 or may by turning said valve in the proper direction be caused to gradually close said passage, and thus diminish the flow of gas to the vaporizing-chamber. The valve 14 and the auxiliary valve 20 and their seats are ground, so that no packing is required. Arranged on the hollow valve-stem 11 at the bottom of the vaporizing-chamber is an annular or cup packing 24, formed of leather, for example, and which is held to its seat about said valve-stem and against the bottom of the vaporizingchamber by the pressure of the volatilized gas. Fixed on the upper end of the hollow valve-stem 11 is a handle 25, to one side of which is fixed a piece of insulating material 26, and to the side of said insulation is fixed the upper end of a copper brush 27, which is pendent from the handle. Fixed on the upper side of the screw-cap 5 of the vaporizingchamber is a piece of insulating material 28, which is also provided with a hollow pendent bushing 29, that passes down through said cap. Attached to the upper side of the insulation 28 are two parallel metallic segmentshaped contact-plates 30 and 31, which are separated from each other, and as the handle 25 is turned to open the valve 14 the brush 27 will sweep over said contactplates and electrically connect them, as will more fully hereinafter appear. The handle 25 is provided at its inner end with a pendent arm 32, which is adapted to abut against either one of two lugs 33 and 34, formed on or fixed to the upper side of the cap 5. These lugs are for the purpose of arresting the movement of the handle, so as to hold the valve either open or closed. Also passing through the top of the cap 5 is a bushing 35, of insulating material. Extending through said bushing is a metallic contact-screw 36. A similar metallic contact-screw 37 passes through the bushing 29, before referred to, and is connected to the contact-plate 30. The contact-screw 36 is electrically connected to a wire 38,which leads from a battery, (not shown,) and the contact 31 is electrically connected by a wire 39 to the other terminal of the battery. Fixed around the packing-box 8 is a piece of insulating material 40, and wrapped around said insulation is an electrical heating-coil 41, one terminal of which is connected with the contact-screw 36 and the other terminal to the contact-screw 37. Formed on the opposite sides of the globe-valve 20 are two lugs 42, which seat in recesses 43. formed in the sleeve 15 and which serve to so connect the valve 14 with the valve 20, which is rigidly fixed on the hollow valve-stem, that said valve 14 will be caused to turn when the hollow valve-stem is turned. The screw-cap 5 is provided on one side with a laterally-projecting lug 43, which is adapted to be engaged by a spanner-wrench for screwing up and unscrewing the said cap.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows: Let it be assumed that the handle 1 25 is turned to such a position that the stoparm 32 is in engagement with the stop-lug The valve 14 will then be in such a position that the port 23 will be out of register with the passage 22, and hence the latter will be closed, whereby no gas can pass from the tank 1 to the vaporizing-chamber 2. hen the parts are in this position, the brush 27 will be out of engagement with the contacts 30 and 31. and hence the circuit will be broken, and no current will therefore flow through the heating-coil 41. Should it occur from any cause that an abnormal portion of the liquid gas in the tank 1 should be vaporized and produce in said tank an unsafe pressure, the frangible disk 18 will be broken by such pressure, and the volatilized gas will then pass up through the hollow valve-stem l1 and out into the atmosphere. Normally, however,the disk 18 will remain intact and will not permit of the escape of any gas through the hollow valvestem. If it be now desired to permit the liquid gas to pass to the vaporizing-chamber, there to be volatilized, the handle 25 is moved in the direction of the hands of a clock and will thereby turn the valve 14 and cause the port 23 to register with the passage 22. The liquefied gas being now relieved from pressure, or, more properly speaking, from confinement, will slowly resume its original or normal gaseous form and escape from the chamber 1 by the passage 22 into the vaporizing-chamber 2. In turning the handle, however, to accomplish this result the brush 27 will be moved into engagement with the contacts 30 and 31, thereby bridging said contacts and closing the electrical circuit. The current will then flow through the heating-coil 41. As the partiallyvaporized gas enters the vaporizing-chamber 2 it will be instantly further volatilized and heated by the electric heating-coil and will pass out through the discharge-outlet 7 to the point where it is to be utilized. From the description heretofore given of the port 23 it will be evident that the handle may be turned to a greater or less degree to cause the tapered port to cover or uncover to a greater or less extent the passage 22, and the flow of the gas through said port and the passage to the vaporizing-chamber will thus be regulated. The valve 20 being tightly held to its seat by the spring 21, it will be obvious that should any volatilized gas pass down around the outside of the hollow valve-stem 11 it cannot pass between said valve and its seat and is thereby prevented from gaining access to the atmosphere through the hollow valve-stem, and as an additional precaution to prevent the volatilized gas from so leaking down the exterior of the hollow valve-stem l have provided the leather packing 24, before described. It will be noted that whenever the handle 25 is turned to close the valve 14 the brush 27 will be thrown out of engagement with the contacts 30 and 31, and the circuit will be thereby broken,

ITO

putting the heating-coil out of action, and, conversely, whenever the handleis turned to open or partially open the valve 14. the brush will be caused to engage the contacts 30 and 31,

closing the circuit and causing the current to gases are shut off from the vaporizing-chamber, the current being thereby shut off, there is no liability of causing any undue pressure of the gas through negligence or other causes. The size of the valve and the amount of current supplied to the heater will of course depend upon the requirements of the purpose for which the apparatus is to be employed. Furthermore, from the construction shown and described it follows that the heat employed in volatilizing the gas will be the total of the amount supplied to the apparatus, as the electric heater being entirely inclosed and surrounded by gas every heat unit will be effectively employed to accomplish its purpose, thereby efl'ecting an economy in the batterypower.

I contemplate employing my improved device wheresoever it is desired to quickly and thoroughly vaporize, heat, and expand aliquefied gas-as,for example, in connection with motors for furnishing a highly vaporized and expansive gas as the motive power, though it will of course be obvious that it may be employed for numerous other purposes.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a liquid-gas tank and a vaporizing-chamber connected by a passage therewith, of a rotary disk valve having a graduated port arranged to be thrown into and out of register with said passage according to the direction in which said valve is turned, two contacts insulated from one another and forming the terminals of the heatercircuit, a handle for turning said valve, a brush carried by said handle and arranged to engage and disengage said contacts, to make and break the circuit when the handle is turned to open and close the valve and means for arresting the movement of said handle in two opposite directions, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a liquid-gas tank and a vaporizing-chamber having a stem fitted in said tank and provided with a passage leading from the tank to said chamber, of a rotary disk valve seated against the said stem and provided with a tapered port adapted, byturning said valve, to be thrown into and out of register with said passage, a hollow stem connected at one end to the said valve and passing through the vaporizing-chamber and its stem, said valve-stem communicating at one end with-the atmosphere and at its other end with the interior of the tank, a frangible disk normally closing the inner end of the valvestem, a handle for turning the valve-stern and a heater arranged in the vaporizing-chamber, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a liquid-gas tank and a vaporizing-chamber having a stem fitted in said tank and provided with a passage leading. from the tank to said chamber, of a rotary disk valve seated against the end of said stem and provided with a segmental and tapered port adapted, by turning said valve, tobe thrown into and out of register with said passage, said valve being provided with a pendent sleeve forming a valve-seat, a globe-valve, means for holding the globe-valve against said seat, a hollow valve-stem passing through the vaporizing-chamber, its'stem, the rotary disk valve and the globe-valve, means connecting the disk and globe valve together, a handle for turning the valve-stem, a frangible disk arranged in said sleeve and normally shutting off communication between the tank and the hollow valve-stem and a heater arranged in the vaporizing-chamber, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a liquid-gas tank and a vaporizing-chamber having a stem fitted in said tank and provided with a passageleading from the tank to said chamber, of a rotary disk valve seated against the end of said stem and provided with a tapered port adapted, by turning said valve, to be thrown into and out of register with the said passage, said valve being provided with a pendent sleeve forming a valve-seat, a globe-valve arranged in said sleeve, a cap fitted on the sleeve and having an aperture in its end, a frangible disk fitted between the end of the sleeve and cap, a coilspring disposed in the sleeve and holding the globe-valve to its seat, means connecting the rotary disk valve'and globe-valve together, a handle for turning the valve-stem and a heater arranged in the vaporizing-chamber, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a liquid-gas tank and a vaporizing-chamber having a stem fitted in said tank and provided with a passage leading from the tank to said chamber, of a rotary disk valve seated against the end of said stem and provided with a tapered port adapted, by turning said valve, to be thrown into and out of register with said passage,-said valve being provided with a pendent sleeve forming a valve-seat, a globe-valve arranged in said sleeve, a cap fitted on the sleeve and having an aperture in its end, a frangible disk fitted between the end of the sleeve and cap, a coilspring disposed in the sleeve and holding the globe-valve to its seat, lugs on the globe-valve fitting in recesses in the sleeve for connecting the rotary disk valve and globe-valve together, a handle for turning the valve-stem and a heater arranged in the vaporizing-chamber, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a liquid-gas tank and a vaporizing-chamber having a stem fitted in said tank and provided with a passage leading from the tank to said chamber, of a rotary disk valve seated against the end of said stem and provided with a tapered port adapted, by turning said valve, to be thrown into and out of register with said passage, a hollow stem connected at one end to said valve and passing through the vaporizing-chamber and its stem, said valve-stem communicating at one nesses.

GEORGE B. FRALEY. Witnesses:

S. E. PATTERSON, E. VVEA'I'ZMAN. 

